These Regulations make provision in relation to the functions of the Commission for Health Improvement established under section 19 of the Health Act 1999 (“the Commission”).

Regulations 2 to 19 make provision in relation to the exercise of the Commission’s functions in Wales. In particular, they make provision for an annual work programme (regulation 2), the provision of advice or information with respect to arrangements for the purpose of monitoring and improving health care for which NHS bodies or providers of family health services have responsibility (regulations 3 and 4), the conduct of reviews of such arrangements and of reviews of the management, provision or quality of, or access to or availability of health care for which NHS bodies or such providers are responsible (regulations 5 to 9), the conduct of investigations into the management, provision or quality of health care for which NHS bodies have responsibility (regulations 10 to 15).

Regulations 16 to 19 make provision for the Commission and persons authorised by the Commission to enter relevant premises and to obtain documents, information and explanations. Regulations 20 and 21 make provision relating to the provision of assistance to the Audit Commission and to inquiries relating to the health service.